Fuel-feed system



.3 swears'snser l F. E. ED'IARDS. FUEL FEED SYSTEM. FILED APR. 30.

Jan. 2, 1923 @Aa-31510115 ma@ Mmmm H Y y H n; mail? Jan. 2, 1923.1,440,382

' F. E. EDWARDS.

Fuel. FEED SYSTEM. FILED APR. 30. 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JI 7 18 14 @zg2. l

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS EDWIN EDWARDS, OF CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 STROMBERGMOTOR DEVICES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

FUEL-FEED SYSTEM.

Application filed April 30, 1920. Serial No. 377,924.

To all wzom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. EDWARDS,

.a citizen of the United States, residing at Crystal Lake, in the countyof McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Fuel-Feed Systems, of which the following is a full,clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for lifting anddelivering liquid from a lower level to a higher level and has specialreference to improved means for feeding liquid fuel to internalcombustion engines and for automatically controlling the delivery of thefuel in accordance with the quantity being used by the engine.

This present application, in so far as the subject matter thereof hasbeen disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 236,271, filedMay 24, 1918, is a continuation in part thereof.

The feeding of liquid fuel to automobile engines has been accomplishedprimarily by one of three well known systems, known generally as gravityfeed, pressure feed or suction fee-d.

Of these three systems the suction feed, or a combination of suction andgravity feed, has now come into particular favor on account of theundesirable features of the gravity and pressure systems.

The usual suction feed, so called, which depends upon the suction in theintake of the engine as the source of power with which to raise theliquid from a lower level supply tank is not altogether satisfactory asthe suction upon wide open throttle is reduced to such a low point as tobe practically ineffective.

In this present-invention I use a pulsating device or pulsometerpositively operated by the engine, when running, as the source of power,and which effects the lifting of the liquid fuel from a lower levelstorage tank for ultimate delivery to the carburetor float chamber and Iautomatically govern the pumping action so that the desired level ofliquid is constantly maintained in the carburetor oat chamber.

In applying the power from the pulsating device to the delivery of theliquid, I provide a body of air enclosed partly in what I term a pumpingchamber, partly in the pulsating device, and partly in the pipeconnecting these two. The pulsometer which I preferably use is acylinder and piston, though obviously other forms might be made use of.The piston is operatively connected to the engine and is reciprocatedwhen the engine runs. The reciprocation of the piston in the cylinderalternately compresses and rarefies the body of confined air whicheffects the alternate lowering and raising of pressure in the pumpingchamber. This chamber has check valve controlled ports, one connected tothe lower level storage tank which is vented to the atmosphere and theother connected to the carburetor float chamber arranged at a higherlevel than the storage tank and which is also preferably vented to theatmosphere. At 'times the pumping effect of the pulsations may begreater than the quantity used by the engine, and I provide simple meansfor stopping or diminishing the further entrance of fuel into the systemand for preventing excessive rise of the liquid level in the carburetorHoat chamber.

Primarily I arrange a means for obtaining an overiiow discharge of theliquid from the carburetor float chamber to the pumping chamber when thelevel in the carburetor float chamber exceeds a predetermined limit.'I`he arrangement is such that when the liquid in the carburetor oatchamber rises above the normal level thereof, the float opens asubmerged overflow port leading to the suction intake of the pumpingchamber, thus causing an overflow discharge of liquid to the suctionintake, which overflow discharge stops or diminishes the further drawingof liquid from the storage tank by satisfying or partially satisfyingthe suction created at the suction intake. My system also includes meansfor automatically regulating the pumping action in accordance with theheight of liquid in the pumping chamber itself.

Under normal action the pressure in the pumping chamber variessubstantially equally above and below atmospheric pressure upon thecompression and rarefaction strokes. As the liquid rises in the pumpingchamber the air space is reduced and the maximum pressure increases andin consequence the suction pressure does not drop so low until a pointis reached when the pressure on the suction stroke does not drop belowatmosphere and at which point obviously the fiow of liquid into thechamber from the storage tank will cease, thus preventing an overfillingof the pumping chamber. I may also provide simple positive means forcutting ofl' the pumping action from the pumping chamber when the liquidrises therein above a predetermined level. This consists of a valvecontrolled by al float in the pumping chamber and arranged to close offthe pipe leading` to the pulsometer.

To minimize the pumping effect of the pulsations and provide asubstantially constant steady flow of the liquid from the pumpingchamber to the carburetor float chamber, instead of the unsteady flowwhich would result from a direct connection between the pumping chamberand the float chamber, I provide an air cushion control between the twochambers, this air chamber absorbs the high pressure discharge on thepressure stroke and causes the liquid to flow steadily to thecarburetor. This air cushion control of the delivery of the liquid fromthe pumping chamber to the carburetor chamber is of importance inconnection with the control of the overflow discharge of fuel by thecarburetor float, for the reason that, otherwise, when the float is justat the overfiow level, the delivery impulse of fuel raises the floatmomentarily by slightly raising the level and the overflow dischargeimmediately lowers the float by lowering the level so that the fioatvibrates off and on its valve seat and the level fiuctuates undesirably.This is overcome by the provision of the air cushion, which maintains aslow discharge of liquid to the fioat chamber after the pressure impulsein the pumping chamber has ceased, and thus maintains a more constantlevel in the lioat chamber.

For a clear understanding of my invention attention is directed to saidaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of my improved fuel feed system showingthe air impulse pump construction;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the pumping chamber andassociated parts and connections;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the carburetor; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of my improved fuel feed system showinga combined construction of pumping chamber and carburetor float chamber.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the pumping chamber, which is designated 1is connected by a pipe 2 to a simple pulsating device 3. The chamber isalso connected by a suction pipe /1 to a supply tank 5 arranged at alower level and by a delivery pipe 6 to the float chamber 7 of thecarburetor which is adapted to supply fuel to an internal combustionengine (not shown). The several connecting pipes are connective to theseveral devices by suitable couplings. The pumping chamber 1 is closedat its top by a removable cover 8 having a central threaded opening 9 inwhich a threaded nipple 10 is inserted, the lower end 11 of whichprojects into the pumping chamber to form a valve seat. The nipple 10 isconnected by the pipe 2 to the pulsating device 3, which in thisinstance comprises an open ended cylinder 12 in which a piston 13 ismounted for reciprocat-ion. The piston is operatively connected to theengine and is reciprocated when the engine is running. The air in thechamber 1, the pipe 2 and the cylinder 12 constitutes an elastic pistonbetween the piston 13 and the liquid which is contained in the pumpingchamber for transmitting the power pulsations from the piston 18 to theliquid in the chamber 1. For the purpose of positively shutting off theaction of the pulsations from the chamber 1 at times when the liquidtherein rises above a predetermined level, T provide a float 14 in thechamber 1, guided on the central guide pin 15, mounted on the bottomwall 16 of the pump chamber. The float carries a valve 17 mounted on itsupper wall and adapted to be lifted by the float to close against thelower end 11 of the nipple 10 and shut off the pulsations. The valve 17is preferably connected to the float 14; by a ball and socket connection18 which permits the valve to accommodate itself to the seat and tightlyclose off the pipe 2. I arrange the fioat and the valve so that thefloat cuts off the pulsations when the chamber 1 fills to apredetermined level, this being of importance when the device is used inconnection with a carburetor which is adapted to cut off the flow ofliquid to the carburetor float chamber', when the liquid therein risesabove the normal level thereof.

Below the pump chamber 1 and preferably in the same casting therewith, Iprovide an inlet or a suction chamber 19 and a delivery or pressurechamber 20. The suc tion chamber is connected to the pumping chamber 1through a small inlet port or passage 21 controlled by a check valve 22arranged to admit the liquid to the pumping chamber on the suctionstroke and to prevent the return of the liquid to the suction chamber onthe pressure stroke. The suction chamber is connected by the pipe t tothe supply tank 5 and by the pipe 23 to the car buretor 7.

I preferably project the pipe 23 up through the bottom of the carburetorchamber extending it centrally up through the chamber to form a guidefor the carburetor float 24. The upper end 25 of the pipe 23 terminatessuiiiciently below the normal liquid level of the carburetor floatchamber, which is substantially the level illustrated, to be submergedat all times. The open end of the pipe 25 is normally closed by a valve27 which is carried by a yoke 28 secured upon the top of the float 24.The valve 27 is extended down through a central Well 24 formed in thefloat 24; this well being slightly larger than the pipe 23 to permitfree access of the liquid fuel up around the pipe to the valve openingin the top thereof. The valve is arranged to permit of some slightmovement of the float without disturbing the valve on its seat so thatthe valve will not be oversensitive. For this purpose the valve andfloat are yieldingly connected. The valve is provided with a stem 29projecting through the yoke 28 and a head 30 is arranged above the yoke,the valve being held pressed to its seat by a spring 31 between thevalve and the yoke. Normally the head 30 is spaced slightly above theyoke so that the iloat can raise and lower slightly Without disturbingthe valve, and the valve can accommodate itself to the seat to tightlyclose the end of the pipe 23 at all times when it is not lifted free ofthe seat by the float.

It will now be clear that in case the liquid level in the carburetorchamber 7 rises sufliciently to lift the float and to lift the valve 27from its seat, liquid will be admitted to the suction chamber 19 fromthe carburetor float chamber 7 through the pipe 23. It will be notedthat the liquid enters the suction chamber under atmospheric pressure,the carburetor chamber being vented to the atmosphere through the smallvent opening 32. The admission of this liquid to the suction chamber 19relieves the suction impulses acting therein and interrupts ordiminishes further drawing of the liquid through the supply pipe 4. Onlya small quantity of liquid will be admitted tothe pipe 23, whereupon thevalve 27 will again reseat by reason of the drop in level. This quantitywill, however, momentarily relieve the admission o-f further fuel intothe system by satisfying the suction impulse, and will in whole or inpart, enter the pumping chamber 1 under the suction impulses. Here itwill be again subjected to the pressure impulses and will be forced backinto the carburetor float chamber 7, whence it will be seen that acontinual circulation of the liquid will be normally maintained throughthe float chamber and through the pumping chamber. As more fuel is used,less is returned through the pipe 23 and consequently larger incrementsare necessarily drawn up through the supply pipe 4 in relieving thesuction impulses in the suction chamber 19. I preferably make the inletpassage 21 in a threaded plug 33 which also carries a cage 34 forholding the valve 22 in place, and for convenience in assembling thedevice I provide an opening 35 in the lower wall of the suction chamber19, through which the plug 33 can be inserted into place, said openingbeing closed by a removable screw plug 36.

F or controlling the delivery of the liquid from the pumping chamber 1to the pipe 6 and through the delivery chamber 20, I connect the pipe 6to the lower part of the chamber 20 and I provide a delivery tubescrewed tightly into the bottom wall 16 of the pumping chamber andextending down to the lower part of the delivery chamber. The lower end37 of this tube 37 is enlarged to provide an enlarged valve seat whichis normally maintained closed by a check valve 39, which is heldupwardly against the lower end of the delivery tube by a spring 40. Thespring 40 is housed in a chamber 41 provided in a plug 42 which tightlycloses the lower end of the chamber 20. As the pipe 6 is connected tothe lower end of the delivery chamber 20 and as the delivery tube 37extends into the lower part thereof, the upper part of the chamberconstitutes an air cushion, as I provide no means of venting the upperpart of the chamber. The action of the delivery of the liquid from thepumping chamber upon the impulse stroke of the device is to force theliquid down through the delivery tube 37, forcing the valve 39 from itsseat, flowing into the delivery chamber 2O and compressing the airtherein to the extent that the liquid does not immediately escapethrough the delivery pipe 6. The wall ofthe plug 42 surrounding thevalve 39 is provided with delivery openings 43 to permit the liquid toflow freely into the chamber 20 as it escapes past the valve 39.

In the normal operation of the device the pulsations in the pumpingchamber raise the liquid fuel from the tank 5 and deliver it to thecarburetor in a constant and steady flow. If for some reason the liquidis carried into the pumping chamber faster than it can escape to thecarburetor, the liquid will rise therein and thereby either reduce thesuction effect as explained or by the lifting of the float close off theconnection to the pump 3 thus stopping the pumping action. If the demandupon the carburetor is less than the quant-ity delivered to thecarburetor, the level of liquid rises in the carburetor and lifts thevalve 27, thereby causing an overiow discharge of the liquid back to thepumping chamber 1 and stopping or diminishing the further drawing ofliquid into the system by relieving the suction impulses. It will beunderstood that the carburetor can be equipped with any of the wellknown admission control valves by which the flow of liquid fuel to thecarburetor is stopped ofi' when the liquid level therein rises abovenormal, at the same time that the overflow port is opened and thesuction pulsations in the pumping chamber are relieved.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a modified construction, showing thepumping chamber embodied integrally with the carburetor float chamber.rlvhe float chamber 7 is formed with a depending portion 46 :in which iscored out a pumping chamber 47. The vertical wall 4S of the floatchamber 7 is increased in thickness at one point to allow for a verticalpassage 49, which extends up from the pumping chamber 47 to the top ofthe float chamber wall 48. At its upper end the passage 49 is closed offby a screw plug 5l or the like. This passage 49 has communication at apoint above the level of the liquid in the float chamber 7. with thepipe 2 which leads to the pulsating pump 3. The pumping chamber 47 hasinlet communication from the liquid fuel pipe 4 through a threadednipple or plug 52 which screws up into the bottom of the pumping chamber47. The plug 52 is formed with a central opening 53, the upper end ofwhich is controlled by a disc check val ve 54 which is confined within avalve cage 55, carried on the upper end of the plug 52. The plug 52 andvalve and valve cage 54 and 55 are so constructed that they may bethreaded up through the bottom of the pumping chamber as a unit. Thedischarge of the liquid fuel from the pumping chamber 47 to the floatchamber 7 is by way of a short pipe 56 which threads down through thebottom wall of the float chamber 7 and terminates at a point adjacentthe bottom of the pumping chamber 47. The upper end of the dischargepipe 56 carries a valve cage 57 in which is confined a disc check valve5S for controlling the discharge outlet opening into the float chamber7.

The iioat 24 is guided in its rise and fall on a central stem 59 whichterminates at a point below the normal liquid level, as indicated. Thisstem is bored out to provide the overflow passage 61, which iscontrolled by the float valve This float valve is yieldably supported bythe float 24, as in the previous embodiment, being supported upon a stem63, which is guided for limited reciprocation in a bridge member G4,extending across a depression 65 in the top; of the iioat.' The upperend of the stem 63 is headed, as indicated at 66, and a spring 67 iscoiled about the pin to normally retain the valve 62 in its lowermostposition. The overflow passage 6l is extended down through the dependingcasting portion 46 and is closed off at its lower end by a suitablescrew plug 68. A drill hole 69 is bored transversely across the bottomof the casting extension 46, so as to intersect the overflow passage 6land also the fuel inlet plug 52. The end of this cross bore 69 is closedby a suitable screw plug 7l. The inletplug 52 is provided with lateraldrill holes 72 in the plane of the drill hole 69 so as to establishcommunication between the overflow passage 6l and the central passage 53extending through the plug 52. The interior of the pumping chamber 47 ismade accessible by providing a large screw plug 7 8 in the wall thereof.The top of the float chamber 7 is closed by a removable cover 74.

The operation is substantially identical with that previously described.The liquid fuel is' successively drawn into the pumping chamber 47 anddischarged into the float chamber 7 by the alternating suction andcompression impulses transmitted from the pulsator 3. lVhen liquid levelin the float chamber 7 rises above its pre-determined height, theoverflow passage 61 is opened by the unseating of the valve 62 and anoverfiow discharge takes place down into the admission passage 53 in thefuel inlet plug As previously described. this overflow dischargesatisfies or partially satisfies the suction impulses acting in thepumping chamber 47, whereby further induction of fuel into the pumpingsystem through the pipe 4 is stopped or diminished. As the liquid tendsto maintain a higher level than the predetermined level the float valve62 will remain olf its seat to a limited extent, whereby a small,continuous circulation of fuel will be established through the overflowpassage 6l, the pumping chamber 47 and the ioat chamber 7 so long as theinunping chamber 47 tends to supply fuel to the ioat chamber 7 at afaster rate than it is used in the carburetor. It will be apparent thatany tendency of the level of the liquid fuel to rise in the pumpingchamber 47 and possibly into the vertical passage 49, will diminish thevolumetric area of the elastic piston to such an extent that the suctionimpulses will be insutcient in degree to raise the fuel from the supplytank, and thus there is no possibility of drawing liquid fuel over intothe pulsator or pipe line. The discharge pipe 5G by opening at thelowermost point of the pumping chamber 47 prevents any air from beinginjected into the float chamber 7 on the compression impulses.

lVithout further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain thegist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service,without eliminating certain features which may properly be said toconstitute the esf DUS FUEL BURP-1R35,

sential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to bedefined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fuel feed system, a pumping chamber, means for pulsating the airin said chamber for pumping liquid into and out of the same, saidchamber having a check valved inlet and a check valved outlet, a supplytank connected with the inlet, a carburetor float chamber communicatingwith the outlet, aja/ventV connected with the inlet and a oat controlledyvalve in the iioat chamber controlling said vent.

2. In a fuel feed system, a pumping chamber, air pulsating meansconnected with said chamber, an outlet port at the lower part of saidchamber, a check valve controlling said port, acarburetor.Hoatnchamherhaving communication with the outletport, asupply tank connected 'to' the inlet port,- a conduit connecting theinlet with said carburetor float chamber, anda oat controlled valve inthe carburetor.ioat. chambercontrolling said conduit.

3. In a fuel feed system, a substantially closed pumping chamber, apulsometer connected to the upper part thereof, check valved inlet andoutlet passages opening into the lower part of said chamber, acarburetor float chamber connected to the outlet, a supply tankconnected to the inlet, and means controlled by the carburetor oat fo'admitting an overow discharge to the in et.

4. In a fuel feed system, a pumping chamber, means for pulsating the airin said chamber for pumping liquid into and out of the same, saidchamber having a check valved inlet and a check valved outlet, a supplytank connected with the inlet, a chamber communicating with the outlet,a vent connected with the inlet and a `float controlled valve in thechamber controlling said vent.

5. In a fuel feed system of the kind described, a substantially closedpumping chamber, means connected with the upper part of the chamber forpulsating the air therein, the chamber having valved inlet and outletports opening into the lower part thereof, a' carburetor float chambercommunicating with said outlet port, a supply tank connected with theinlet port, a conduit for connecting the outlet port with said floatchamber, and means controlled by the height of liquid in the carburetoriioat chamber for controlling the admission of iuid to said conduit.

6. In a fuel system of the kind described, a substantially closedpumping chamber, means for pulsating the air therein, said chamberhaving check valved inlet and outlet passages opening intol the lowerpart thereof, a carburetor float chamber connected to the outlet, apressure equalizing air chamber interposed between the pumping chamberand the carbureting chamber, a source of liquid supply connected withthe inlet, and means controlled by the carburetor float for controllingthe supply of liquid to said inlet.

7. In a fuel feed system of the kind described, a closed pumpingchamber, means for pulsating the air therein, said pumping chamberhaving inlet and outlet passages opening into the lower part thereof andcontrolled by check valves, a carburetor float chamber connected withthe outlet, an air cushioning chamber connected with the outlet, asupply tank connected with the inlet, and means controlled by the levelof liquid in the carburetor fioat chamber for controlling the supply ofliquid to the inlet.

8. In a fuel feed system of the kind described, a closed pumpingchamber, inlet and outlet ports entering the lower part of said chamber,a delivery chamber connected to the pumping chamber, a delivery tubeopening into the lower part of the delivery chamber, a check valve atthe discharge end of said tube for preventing the return of the liquidto the pumping chamber, a delivery pipe connected to the lower part ofthe delivery chamber, whereby the upper part of the delivery chamberforms an air cushion and a carburetor chamber connected to said deliverypipe.

9. In a fuel feed system of the kind described, a closed pumpingchamber, means connected to the upper part thereof for pulsating the airtherein for pumping the liquid into and out of said chamber, the chamberhaving check valved inlet and outlet ports at its lower; part, acarburetor oat chamber and a valve controlled by the pulsating means,and means controlled by the level of liquid in the carburetor floatchamber for controlling the supply of liquid to the pumping chamber.

10. In a fuel feed system, the combination of a pumping chamber, airpulsating means connected with said chamber, inlet and outlet ports insaid pumping chamber, a supply tank connected to said inlet port, acarburetor chamber connected to said outlet port, and means controlledby the liquid fuel in said carburetor chamber for permitting acirculation of liquid fuel from said carburetor chamber into saidpumping chamber and back into said carburetor chamber.

11. In a fuel feed system, the combination of a pumping chamber, airpulsating means connected with said chamber, inlet and outlet ports insaid pumping chamber, a supply tank connected to said inlet port, acarburetor float chamber connected to said outlet port, and a by-passcontrolled by the oat in said float chamber for permitting a closedcirculation of liquid fuel between said CJI pumping chamber and saidcarburetor float chamber.

12. The meth.o.dof feeding liquid fuel which comprises creatingalternating compressions and rarefactions of gas in a closed pumpingchamber, drawing liquid fuel into said pumping chamber on therarefaction impulses, discharging the fuel from the pumping chamber intoa carburetor float chamber on the compression impulses, creating acirculation of liquid fuel through the pumping chamber and A thec411011IQ-QI HOM? chamber, and withdrawing fuel for Ycarburation fromthe vlumewof. fuel circulating through the carburetor float chamber.

13. In a fuel feed system, a pumping chamber, air pulsating meansconnected with said chamber, an outletJ port at the lower part of saidchamber, a check valve control ling said port, a chamber havingcommunication with the inlet port, a supply tank connected to the inletport, a conduit connecting the inlet with said chamber, and a floatcontrolled valve in said chamber controlling said conduit.

14. In a fuel feed system, a substantially closed pumping chamber,apulsometer connected to the upper part thereof, check valved inlet andoutlet passages opening into the lower part of said chamber, a chamberconnected to the outlet, a supply tank connected to the inlet, and meanscontrolled by the level in said last mentioned chamber for admitting anoverflow discharge to the inlet.

15. The method of feeding liquid fuel which. comprises creatingalternating compressions and rarefactions of gas in a closed pumpingchamber, drawing liquid fuel into said pumping chamber on therarefaction impulses, discharging the fuel from the pumping chamber intoa receiving chamber on the compression impulses, creating a circulationof liquid fuel through the pumping chamber and the receiving chamber,and withdrawing fuel for Carburation from the volume of fuel circulatingthrough the re- Y ceiving chamber.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of April,1920.

FRANCIS EDI/VIN EDWARDS.

